A man who stuck two fingers up at a judge while being sentenced for aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and driving without insurance has been jailed.

Harry Macintosh, 26, was convicted of the offences on April 26.

But during the start of his sentencing hearing at Burnley Crown Court on Wednesday, May 24, while his barrister Holly Nelson was addressing Judge Sara Dodd, Macintosh raised his fingers to the judge in a rude gesture.

When Judge Dodd told Macintosh she had seen what he did, he replied, “good”.

Macintosh was promptly sent out of court to talk with his barrister about the incident and upon his return around 10 minutes later, Ms Nelson offered sincere apologies on his behalf.

Judge Dodd informed the court his sentencing would be adjourned until Thursday (May 25) so she could “consider whether there will be a contempt of court charge.”

Appearing back in court on Thursday, Judge Dodd decided to charge the 26-year-old with contempt of court, which he readily admitted to, and she jailed him for three days.

In respect of the other offences, it was heard how in the early afternoon of Monday, April 24, a taxi driver left his vehicle running in Railway Street, Burnley, which was spotted by Macintosh, who got in the vehicle and proceeded to drive away.

He turned into the main road and headed up the M65 towards Nelson and Colne. He returned to Burnley around an hour and a half later, when the stolen vehicle was then spotted by police.

A high-speed chase ensued, along Padiham Road and down multiple side streets to the left of the road, with Macintosh’s top speed estimated to be around 80mph in a 20mph zone by the pursuing officer.

CCTV footage played in court showed the moment Macintosh crashed the taxi into a parked car, the noise of which alerted the owners to come outside and witness the damage.

Officers and a police dog surrounded the car, and according to a statement from PC Ingham, Macintosh shouted ‘set the dog on me and I’ll stab it, lad’.

Mitigating for Macintosh, Ms Nelson said he had come to court realistic about his fate, but he wanted to make improvements to his life for his five-year-old son.

She also said that he suffered from schizophrenia which caused him to behave erratically.

Macintosh was sentenced tp 14 months in prison for the original offences, and three days jail, to be served consecutively, for contempt of court.

Judge Dodd said: “Your speeds were consistent with 50mph in a 20mph zone, failing to stop, and towards the end reached 80 in a 20mph zone.

“It’s immense good fortune that no one was seriously injured.

“In terms of the contempt of court, I accept entirely that your mental health can cause your behaviour to be erratic and I accept that you apologised but this is contempt against the court and not against me.”